The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met with a delegation led by the Parliamentary State Secretary to Federal Minister of Health of Germany Professor Edgar Franke today (May 18) to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, including the strengthening of primary healthcare and digitalisation of healthcare services.

     Professor Lo said, "Many economies around the world, including Hong Kong and Germany, are grappling with challenges of an ageing population. In face of the pressure brought about by the population change and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the Primary Healthcare Blueprint in December 2022, setting out a series of reform initiatives to strengthen primary healthcare services in Hong Kong with a view to shift the emphasis of Hong Kong's healthcare system from its current treatment-oriented, hospital-based structure to a prevention-focused, community-based system. 

     "Digitalisation is powering the future of healthcare. Over the years, the HKSAR Government has introduced and supported a variety of digital initiatives to improve patients' experiences, enhance the quality of healthcare services and empower people for self-management of health, including the Electronic Health Record Sharing System launched in 2016 and the "Smart Hospital" development of the Hospital Authority. We, together with our industry partners, will continue to strengthen efforts on this front in supporting the healthcare development of Hong Kong."

     Both parties have agreed to continue to strengthen co-operation and experience sharing, which will be beneficial to the international community at large.

     Accompanying Professor Lo at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; and the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau.

Ends/Thursday, May 18, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:04

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